OTTAWA – Finance Minister Bill Morneau says he expects the Alberta wildfires to have a relatively modest impact on the broader economy.
Morneau also says the economic fallout from the disaster will be largely contained to the current quarter of the fiscal year.
A huge wildfire forced the evacuation of Fort McMurray as well as the shutdown of some economically important oilsands operations.
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The blaze also destroyed 2,400 buildings in Fort McMurray.
Morneau says investments over the coming months in response to the wildfire will not only help the people of Fort McMurray — they will also help the economy bounce back.
He says the government’s initial focus was the human challenge, such as the matching of charitable donations.
Morneau made the comments during a conference call to reporters. He is in Japan for a meeting of G7 finance ministers.